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This chapter describes the various forms and sources of research data and the importance of planning to appropriately manage data throughout their life cycle. The many reasons that data should be managed within research projects and programs (and beyond to enable future use) are discussed. Legal, ethical and policy reasons for planning are introduced, as are practical and pragmatic reasons, along with the role of researchers in data management processes. Ten important components of a data management plan are addressed and a checklist for researchers in the early stages of constructing a data management plan is provided. The chapter concludes by providing references to useful data management tools and resources.

This chapter begins with a broad overview of the methodological landscape that distinguishes between three levels: the level of meta-theoretical assumptions where different paradigms are articulated, the level of research methods and the level of research techniques and tools. Different research paradigms are then discussed, making explicit the assumptions that inform them, and the relationships between methodology, theory and method in conducting research. We then build on this analysis illustrating the distinctive nature of the paradigms with examples from three seminal papers from within the same topic domain, information richness. Drawing on these papers, we discuss how the methodological assumptions determine choice of research paradigm, formulation of research questions and selection of methods, and provide practical examples of how this is achieved. The chapter concludes by summarising the arguments for adopting a broader view of research methodology and its importance for achieving greater reflexive awareness of our ‘unconscious metaphysics’ that underlay and influence how we see and research the world.

This chapter begins by reinforcing the integral role of writing and dissemination in the research process, while acknowledging that writing and dissemination practices vary from discipline to discipline, field to field. Despite these differences, there are characteristics and processes that most research writing and dissemination have in common, and these are discussed here. From the general structure of a research report to the importance of writing throughout the research process, key aspects of research writing are addressed after which dissemination and publishing are defined and major and emerging forms of publication are described. The chapter concludes with a discussion of peer review and the ethics of authorship.

In dem Beitrag sollen Erfahrungen aus der Durchführung teilstrukturierter Online-Interviews im Rahmen einer ethnografischen Studie vermittelt werden, die zwischen 2000 und 2001 in Saudi-Arabien durchgeführt wurde. Ziel der Untersuchung war es, sowohl die individuelle Beteiligung in Online-Gemeinschaften als auch die Auswirkungen dieser Gemeinschaften auf das Offline-Leben in Saudi-Arabien zu rekonstruieren. Die Wahrnehmungen der jeweiligen Online-Gemeinschaften durch die Teilnehmer und Teilnehmerinnen wurde mittels teilstrukturierter Interviews erhoben. Insgesamt beteiligten sich an der Untersuchung 15 Personen (8 Frauen und 7 Männer). Nach einer kurzen Einführung in die saudiarabische Kultur wird die theoretische und methodologische Konzeption der Studie vorgestellt. Es folgt eine Diskussion des teilstrukturierten Interviews und der Gründe, die dafür ausschlaggebend waren, die Interviews online durchzuführen. Anschließend werden zunächst die Kriterien für die Auswahl der Interviewten und die mit dieser Auswahl verbundenen Probleme skizziert, dann werden Einzelheiten der Interviewdurchführung und Datenauswertung erläutert. Der Artikel endet mit einem Diskussionsangebot über die Erfahrungen, die im Verlauf dieses Forschungsvorgehens gewonnen wurden., he aim of this article is to discuss the lessons learned from conducting semi-structured interviews online in an ethnographic study that took place in Saudi Arabia during the period 2001-2002. The purpose of the study was to explore individuals' participation in online communities in Saudi Arabia and also understand how online com­munities in Saudi Arabia are affecting partici­pants' offline culture. Semi-structured online inter­views were used to report the perceptions of 15 participants (8 females, 7 males) about their online community experience in Saudi Arabia. After a brief background on Saudi culture, the article discusses the conceptual and methodo­logi­cal aspects of the study. It then discusses semi-structured interviews, highlighting the rationale for conducting them online. A discussion of sampling and participant selection follows. The article then discusses the recruitment of participants and the difficulties involved in this process. The ways in which the online interviews were conducted and the data were analysed are discussed next. The article concludes by offering a discussion of the lessons learned from using this technique., El objetivo de este artículo es discutir las lecciones aprendidas al realizar entrevistas virtuales semi-estructuradas en un estudio etnográfico que tuvo lugar en Arabia Saudita en el período 2001-2002. El propósito del estudio era explorar la participación individual en comunidades virtuales en Arabia Saudita y también comprender cómo las comunidades virtuales en Arabia Saudita están afectando a los participantes de la cultura no virtual. Se usaron entrevistas semi-esturcturadas en-línea para reportar las percepciones de 15 participantes (8 mujeres, 7 hombres) sobre su experiencia en comunidades virtuales en Arabia Saudita. Tras un breve repaso sobre la cultura saudita, el artículo trata los aspectos conceptuales y metodológicos del estudio. Se abordan luego las entrevistas semi-estructuradas, destacando las razones para desarrollarlas en línea y se presenta una discusión de la muestra y la selección de participantes. Se discute en torno al reclutamiento de participantes y las dificultades encontradas en el proceso. Las formas en que fueron realizadas las entrevistas en-línea y cómo fueron analizados los datos se discute a continuación. El artículo concluye discutiendo sobre las lecciones aprendidas con el uso de esta técnica.

This book provides an overview of approaches to assist researchers and practitioners to explore ways of undertaking research in the information literacy field. The first chapter provides an introductory overview of research by Dr Kirsty Williamson (author of Research Methods for Students, Academics and Professionals: Information Management and Systems) and this sets the scene for the rest of the chapters where each author explores the key aspects of a specific method and explains how it may be applied in practice. The methods covered include those representing qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods. Both a chapter on the topical evidence-based practice approach, and another critiquing it, are also included. The final chapter points the way towards potential new directions for the burgeoning field. Renowned information literacy researcher Dr Christine Bruce affirms the usefulness of the book: New researchers and early career professionals will appreciate the clarity of the introductions provided' to each of the methods covered.

This paper explores Australian domestic customers' choices with regard to Internet banking, examining why it is taken up by some Australians and not others. The constructivist conceptual framework and the grounded nature of the method enabled in-depth exploration of key issues not undertaken before by the mainly positivist studies. The purposeful sample of 32 participants was selected to represent the major categories of people relevant to the research. Everett Rogers' famous analysis of 'diffusion of innovations' was one theoretical framework used to illuminate the findings; the other was digital divide factors in relation to banking choices. The findings include 1) that the major motivation for people to adopt Internet banking is convenience, closely linked to time savings and ease of accessibility, as well as confidence and skill in Internet use; and 2) that, at the time of the study, digital divide factors were playing an important part in banking choices.